The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-25

1
anxious fears with severe speech. lik,
many a woman of greater lore befor'
her. Dona CleOfas summarily locked
the one remaining door from the out
side and marched away alone. Sh,
was confident that if trouble were i'm
minent, it would come in the direction
of the little shop that was her source o.
income, where was respectable stOcl
of goods of worth, and readily port
able, besides her stronghold itself-nc
patent money safes then obtaining in
chihuahua. Thitler. then. to the store
room behind the shop did Dona Cleo
fas wend, and near by its weak point
small door opening on the pctio, she
seated herself in great armchair OF
willaw-work, and for a brief time gave
herself up to the luxury of weeping.
For, with all her force and decision OF
character, Dona Cleofas was but a
woman, and it might be on the
cards that she should gaze not on the
faces of her children again. She had
brought her arsenal with her; no cum
ming fabrication of Colts nor many
balled Winchester; for these inventions
OF murderouS man, to MAIN and Stay
his fellows, Dona CleOfas had not the
| slightest use she was the traditional
| woman in her horror of firearms, and
would not have known how to make Of
/ fensive use of them, unless as missiles
60, E., 1,1 s,t,. 49,.
But alongside her. and resting against
her knee, lay a heavy. long-helved axe,
whose keen, broad edge had never been
turned against knot of stubborn oak
nor the gnarled roots that serve as fuel
Whereabouts. And Dona Cleofas had
all faith i'm the power of her own right
arm to WELD it hard and well against Il
foe. The night went on. the silence
was unbroken, and Dona Cleofas slept
slept hard and fast, until all at
once, with start, she
was rs wide awake as ever she
was in her life. and realizing that very
close to her the throat of 3 man was
emitting labored yet rapid breathings.
The auditory sense was strong and de-
finite in Dona Clcofas. and it took her
not many seconds to decide that the
intruder had crawlcd through an open
ing cut iii the panel of the door before
her, and there he was. apparently
caught fast, sprawling, clawing. and
wriggling to force himself farther in
and clear of the opening. Now and
then, in the fellows contortions. his
hot breath swept the hand of the
watcher. Dona Cleofas drew deep,
soundless breath. and. rising swiftly,
noiselcssly 20 her feet. raised the axe
in the air. Swift as light it fell
chack! one mi ghty. convulsive writhe,
and the man with that last twisting
Shudder had drawn himself past the
grip of the ragged planks, and Dona
Cleofas. STOPPING resolutely. drew him
quite within with as natural move
ment rs her quivering nerves could
compass.
A few moments of silence; then,
barely audible, sibilant whisper:
Thou. LeEcho, is all wcll?' Through
the followed hands of Dona Cleofas an
answer was sent back: "All we'll
come on!' Then, almost breath for
breath. that same scene. unviewed in
the great darkness, was enacted, and
yet again.
But the third time. what with the
strain off her over-&rought nerves. and
the tax on her aching muscles. as she
had dragged ASIDE three wcll-grown.
heavy bodies-the third time. and little
wonder DOna Cleofas could not
answer to the question: '.Art safely in?
Does all go well?" But the fourth
man. cautiously putting his head with
in the gap to rcconnoiter. just missed
the unfailing blow of the heavy axe.
.'What was that? Some treachery is
here" his voice broke forth. "And--
the earth beneath the door is wet
with something slippery-hot-good
God-with bloOd-' There was a
smothered howl of rage and fear. the
rush of scufiling feet. ladder rafting
against the wall as twas drawn up to
the roof, and bona Cleofas was alone.
but for the dead. The dawn had not
yet opened into day when Waterman.
staying the steps of lettering woman,
knock at the great =aguan door of the
Jctc Politico's house, and, after par
ley with the servant on duty, and his
summons to the master, the project
came forth, looking cur.ously at
the pale, haggard face Of his early
guest.
But what is this. good Dona Cleo
fitaSe | can not credit the tale, and
yet. your blood-staincd hands and garb
we'll. well! You go not hence on
foot. nor fasting. After so sore
struggle you must want strength.
Come in and sit you down, while coffee
and wine are brought to us, and the
horses are put to my coach"
But if the good woman had seemed
faint and i'll when she sought the aid of
the project she had well-nigh quite re-
covered her wanted calm and self-re-
lance when she stood. an hour later.
beside that dignitary and watched his
wondering face. while he stripped the
black-masks from the faces of the
dead.
This is 'El Zorro the Fox" he
murmured, consulting formidable
looking paper adorned with great red
seals; THAT is to say. he corresponds
in every particular with the description |
of that bandit, sent UP for my instruc-
ton by my esteemed colleague, the